Inka Kells’ eyes opened, a gasp escaped her lips as she sat up. Her head sank into her hands as what little of the nightmare that tore her from sleep replayed in her head, flames and sudden rain. She was covered in sweat like she had stood in front of an inferno, a lead weight of dread in her gut. Every night for the past couple of days it had been the same thing. Inka could never get back to sleep after waking up like this, and the lack of it was wearing her down. Inka swung herself out of bed, grumbling in frustration, as she opened the shutter to her window and peered out into the cold morning air. The sun had not yet risen, and her breath was barely visible in the lamplight.
The stars were still bright in the sky and thus it was too early for doing any work she wanted, but chores would do. Anything to keep her from laying sleepless in bed. Shivering from the chilly night air, Inka stripped her sheets, changed into fresh clothes, and tied her thick brown hair back with a small cord. If anything, her mother would appreciate waking up to morning chores finished. She decided that this was the beginning of her day, and quietly crept downstairs to get to work.
It was all done before the sun rose. Wood chopped, water drawn from the local well, charcoal stocked in the house, the forges in the workshop were cleaned, and the porch swept. Inka sat and twiddled her thumbs, struggling to keep her eyes open after the third night of terrible sleep in a row. They felt like they were vibrating to stay open. Once the sun had risen enough to see, Inka began watering the garden.
“My daughter, do you ever sleep these days?” Inka looked up from her work slowly, the lithe and ever-graceful Kerttu standing at the side door to the house. Kerttu yawned, brushing a hand through earthy brown hair before folding her arms to ward against the morning cold as she watched Inka work.
“Never slept a day in my life dear mother,” Inka deepened her tone, the deadpan expression that accompanied her and her father’s sarcasm brought a look of amusement from her mother’s eyes.
“How long will you look at me in that tone of voice?” Kerttu raised an eyebrow to accompany her small grin, the ever piercing gaze of her mother made Inka feel sheepish. Kerttu always seemed to know, and when she stepped down from the threshold Inka’s shoulders drooped as though she were guilty of a crime. Inka recoiled at her own behavior, she hadn’t been doing anything wrong, the process of Inka’s emotions, however, must have been interesting because it drew a laugh from her mother.
“How you and your father find joy in mountain humor escapes me, but then again, you two talk to rocks for a living,” Kerttu laughed again and slid through the garden, draping her arms around Inka’s broad shoulders. “Was it that dream again? You should go back to sleep, your father is just going to…”
“Mother I’ll be fine. I was able to work yesterday! A few bad dreams won’t interfere with my duties,” Inka interrupted in a reassuring tone. Kerttu didn’t look convinced, and leaned forward to kiss Inka’s forehead.
“Set the table for breakfast. Your father is lighting the fires in the smithy now. He says thank you for the charcoal,” Kerttu sighed, and after a couple light pats on her daughter’s cheek she made her way back inside to begin cooking breakfast, Inka following shortly after.
#
Inka’s home was cozy, and warm now that the fires had been lit for the day. Half-finished but functional furniture decorated the house and a single portrait detailing Inka as a small girl, Heikki her mountain of a father, Kerttu, and a tall young Raine hung above a grey stone fireplace.
Just out of sight a door shut, a man sighed loudly and the sound of hands beating against pants accompanied bootsteps in a steady rhythm. Heikki rounded the corner, his eyes twinkling as he saw his daughter.
“Inka you look exhausted, again!” After wiping charcoal dust from his apron, Heikki wraps a massive arm around Inka and gives her a squeeze, lifting her from the ground momentarily before taking a seat in one of the creaky wooden chairs.
“It’s not that bad, I can still do good work,” Inka flexed her arm and winked. Anxiety setting in as Heikki didn’t look convinced.
“I can see that you were able to do chores, but I’m not going to let you into the workshop when you look like you’ll fall over at any moment.” Heikki stroked his beard, leaning back.
“Dad I can work.”
“Absolutely not. Go rest, it’s not safe to work while exhausted.”
“Why not? I’ve seen you work multiple days without sleep.”
“And I’ve seen you fall asleep standing up, lass. I’m telling you no work, because your safety is more important,” Heikki clapped a big hand onto his daughter’s head and ruffled her hair. “I know you want to help Inka, and there’ll be time to push your limits in the future. That isn’t now.”
Inka stared at the floor, her cheeks flushed with frustration. She sighed, removed her father’s calloused hand from her head, and looked up at her father. She definitely wasn’t happy being banned from working, but didn’t fight the decision.
“May I use your silvered hammer tomorrow? You promised you’d show me how to use it,” Inka asked, resigning to her fate of no work. Heikki scratched his beard in thought for a moment before nodding.
“Eat all of your dinner when you get home tonight, get some sleep in, and if you don’t look like a ghost tomorrow, I’ll see what we’ll need the hammer for.”
“It will be done,” Inka said in as ominous tone as she could muster, before headbutting her father’s chest and walking upstairs.
“I expect it to be excellent. Say hello to Marcielle for me, his father’s sword should be ready by the end of the week,” Heikki said in a similarly forced ominous tone before laughing, and turning to assist his wife with breakfast.
#
After breakfast, Inka struck out into the city of Oak’s Crossing. She loved her home city, and was excited to spend the day out and about even if it meant she couldn’t work. On her way to the central market she marvelled at the white stone streets, the beautifully sculpted fountains, and the gardens that seemed to pour from every crevice. Everywhere she looked she could see the hard work of artisans she knew personally. She also knew how well the Count who ruled this place paid for their work, and the artisans put their best effort forward in return.
The one thing that always vexed Inka, was the towering spire that seemed to touch the clouds. She knew a wizard lived there. Her friend Marcielle often boasted about how he got to see and talk to the wizard often, but such were the privileges often afforded Knightly Houses. From what Inka understood, the wizard advised the Count in matters relating to the mystical, and often helped contain disasters. But as far Inka was concerned, he barely existed.
Being free of duty gave Inka a great deal of nothing to do, but Marcielle was easy enough to find. She spotted him first, sitting on a bench in the town square watching people go about their day. The moment Marcielle’s eyes fell upon Inka, the young gentleman stood in a flash and made his way to her.
“Inka! My friend of fire and skill over metal and mountain, sky-eyed beauty of the earthen tones. You’re out before the sun has reached its Zenith!”
Inka frowned as she watched him make a scene, like usual. Even those that stepped out of his way looked as though they’d roll their eyes. But they knew better, and deferred to Marcielle as he passed.
“I hate it when you do that, can’t you stay put for five seconds, Ser Marcielle?” Inka sighed, then turned and began to walk. Marcielle stared slack jawed for a moment, looking as though the words had been snatched from his mouth before he jogged after Inka.
“I’m no knight yet, I am simply excited that my dear friend is free from her duties so soon! Absolutely beside myself with joy,” His words were as smooth as his gait, as he flowed through the crowded streets.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, I was instructed not to work today.”
“Instructed? You? By who, that Reginald fellow you keep complaining about?” Marcielle raised an eyebrow, finally falling into step next to Inka. He watched Inka’s face intently, then laughed, “No, it was your father wasn’t it? If it was the new foreman, obscenities would be filling this whole street at the mere mention of his name.”
“It was, I don’t look that tired do I?” Inka asked, and looked to Marcielle, gently pulling at her cheeks to emphasize her eye bags.
“You look like you’re going to fall asleep standing up again, was it that dream?” Marcielle asked after studying Inka’s face for a brief moment, “Do you need a nap? The wizard said today is supposed to be the last good day of sun we get before winter hits.”
“You believe in his predictions? They’re wrong at least half the time,” Inka rolled her eyes and rubbed her palms into the sockets as though it would remove some fatigue.
“The wizard has done my House many good favors, so I’ll vouch for his predictions,” Marcielle replied in faux offense, before his eyes caught something in the path and he shoved Inka off balance.
Inka’s eyes went wide as she stumbled, finding herself narrowly avoiding a cart she would have otherwise walked right into. Marcielle slid gracefully past with a quiet apology to the man pulling the cart and fell back into step on the other side. Inka glared and Marcielle shrugged, then gestured to a garden just at the corner of the street.
“So, those nightmares are keeping you awake in the night yet again are they?” Marcielle asked as he strode into the garden, finding a nice shaded bench among the large flower bed to continue his morning relaxation.
“Yeah,” Inka found a spot on the stone path amongst the flowers to lie back and stare at the cloud scattered sky, her hands resting on her stomach.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to ask the wizard about it? I’m allowed to visit his tower...we could go today,” Marcielle offered, gesturing to the ever-visible spire.
“Again with the wizard,” Inka muttered, “I don’t want to ask a noble to go out of his way to help with bad dreams. Especially if it involves an old man who hardly does anything.”
“Gods...Inka, you are not the one asking,” Marcielle gently kicks Inka’s boot. “You’re so set on taking on the burden of your father’s position by yourself, that you can’t recognize when you’re being offered help.”
“I don’t want help! I just want these dreams to end so I can work!” Inka exclaimed in frustration.
“That’s just it! Relax! Your father is proud you want to continue his work, but you’re the type of person he would be proud of no matter the path you chose. You know that, but for some reason you burn the candle at both ends.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Shut up, and let me nap,” Inka mumbled, he was right but it didn’t make her any less upset that she seemed to be getting scolded by an irresponsible noble heir.
“Becoming proficient at a skill won’t solve your problems. I know your parents will support whatever you choose to do, and branching out would help tremendously.”
“Shut up already,” Inka groans as her fist curls into a ball as she feels the blood rush to her face. This was the last thing she wanted to be hearing from Marcielle right now.
“None of us want to see you destroy your body to fill your brother’s shoes,” Marcielle said flatly. Inka’s mind went to what her mother and father were saying this morning, from them it was fine but from Marcielle it was the last straw.
Marcielle’s face turned from frustration to surprise as Inka rose from the ground with a speed that even she didn’t know was in her. Inka pounced on the foppish boy, and swung her fists wildly in succession, with only the first blow hitting Marcielle’s cheek in a blind rage. After the initial surprise, Marcielle calmed himself and shimmied just enough to avoid taking the next two fists.
“Don’t you know when to stop?!” Inka shouted before being thrown off rather suddenly. Landing on the hard stones nearby nearly knocked the wind out of Inka. She lay there refusing to move, anger white hot in her chest.
“That is exactly what is happening, you’re too stubborn to accept that you don’t need to be Raine. You’re you! A stubborn brat, but still one of the better people I’ve met,” Marcielle’s tone was anything but angry as he stood slowly, brushing the dirt and dust from his fine clothing.
“I’m taking a nap,” Inka said curtly, closing her eyes. Everything was calm, peaceful, the sun warm, and the din of people going about their day in no hurry was calming. She took a breath and her body relaxed, for the first time all week Inka looked forward to sleep.
#
Rolling thunder woke Inka from the thankfully dreamless nap that she slipped into. Looking up she saw the warm colors of the sunset, and as she sat up she saw a wall of dark clouds approaching the city. A bolt of lightning struck in the distance, crossing the tower in a way that Inka found visually appealing.
“I didn’t actually expect you to sleep the whole day,” Marcielle’s voice greeted Inka unexpectedly from the bench. The snap of a book shutting made her flinch, she was embarrassed to look at him. Marcielle’s sigh didn’t help, however, he offered his hand.
“I didn’t expect you to stay,” Inka said quietly, accepting the gesture, placing her hand into his.
“I know Raine being gone can be a sore spot for you, I certainly deserved that first blow. Don’t know about the other two though,” Marcielle chuckled, hauling Inka to her feet as she grabbed his hand. “Let's get you back home, your mother likely will have dinner ready soon. I for one, am famished.”
Inka brushed herself off and stretched, stealing a glance at the approaching storm. The city had already begun to darken, flashes of lightning only occasionally illuminating its walls and the spire. She stared at the spire and considered Marcielle’s offer, maybe after dinner.
The two began their walk back to Inka’s home. The clouds were overhead now, the rain was beginning to sprinkle down, and another peal of thunder followed more quickly after the last flash. Then an explosion shook the stone where they stood.
“What in the name of...Inka where are you going?” Marcielle said as he searched for the source of the noise. Though as Marcielle was searching, Inka was already sprinting back home, the scene of a burning workshop beginning to play in her head.
By the time she reached the workshop her lungs were burning, the rain was growing and her fears confirmed. She stood stupefied in front of her home being consumed by flames, though unlike her dream she wasn’t held in place. Quickly she dashed forward and attempted to barge into the workshop in a desperate search for her parents. It would have been the closest entrance but she was immediately rebuffed by one of her father’s craftsmen.
“Can’t let you do that lass! Your father would never forgive me!” yelled a blacksmith as he grabbed her by the arm. Others were already shouting and trying to direct efforts, knowing the incoming rain alone wouldn’t be enough to stop the fire, let alone contain it.
“They could still be in there!” Inka shouted in panic, looking between the smith and the fire. The smith pushing Inka away from the inferno, and pointing to the line of people passing buckets across the street.
“If you need something to do, help run water until the wizard gets here. Someone already went in there to get your parents earlier but I haven’t heard anything yet.”
The smith’s words flew over Inka’s head as her attention snapped between the several activities going on once more before she attempted to circle around the building, looking for a way in. This time she was thwarted by Marcielle, who snagged her collar and brought her to a screeching halt.
“Stop before you hurt yourself,” Marcielle said calmly as he planted both of his hands on her shoulders to hold her in place. Inka knew she was strong, but this was the first time he had actually rooted her to the ground.
“How can you be so calm, my parents--” Inka grumbled struggled against his hold, only to find herself horizontal in the blink of an eye and slammed into the ground. The jarring impact hurt, but it broke up the panic enough for Marcielle to speak.
“Your parents are fine, I saw them myself when I arrived. Breath, calm down, and think, if you continue to panic you are not going to be helpful to anyone,” Marcielle’s words stung, but again he was right. She would have run into a fire that would likely have killed her.
Inka took a deep breath, and Marcielle hauled her to her feet once more. He rolled his eyes when he was greeted by Inka’s stoney expression that she wore when she was dead set on doing something.
“Water line,” Inka said and again she was off in a dead sprint.
“I swear to the gods, this girl does not think for more than a second.” Marcielle sighed and ran after her, annoyed at the sheer determination that propelled Inka into action.
Inka finally felt like she could do something, she felt less useless than she had moments ago and was ready to work until she dropped. Though as she looked up from her sprint, she had to attempt to halt as a sharp-eyed older man dressed in green-gold threadbare robes appeared in front of her. Where did he come from?! Inka thought to herself as she skidded to a stop. Inka panicked and thought she was going to slam into him, but found herself stumbling past, the man not seeming to move.
“Fire containment service,” the wizard chimed in sarcastically, and chuckled. Mostly to himself as the only other person close enough to hear was Inka.
“It's about time, wizard! Where were you?! Everything is gone now!” Reginald screamed, soaked with sweat and the light rain, stomping up to the wizard with all the fury he could muster. The wizard simply put a hand up and shook his head.
“This is when I could arrive, child,” the wizard said, his voice commanding and clear. He glanced over Inka for a moment before turning his attention back to the burning workshop. “Quite unfortunate timing, the coming storm won’t contain the fire that is about to spread. Everything shall be done in short order.”
“So do something, we don’t need your cryptic nonsense,” the foreman snapped before running back to help with the water.
Inka opened her mouth to speak, but could find no words as the wizard raised his hands, the rain of the storm hitting the city from the thunderous clouds above, and then, the wizard’s voice boomed.
“Sammuta tulet,” the incantation was short, but the effect was immediate and impressive. The rain stopped, and was all drawn into a ring of water gathered in the sky like a floating current. The torrent crashed upon the flames and the surrounding buildings, killing the fire completely. The process soaked all nearby, to include the wizard himself.
“That...that’s it?” Inka said as she stood in shock.
“That’s it, we’re lucky it started raining aren’t we?” The wizard winked at Inka, “Didn’t your young knight tell you? I’m containment,” he continued, a sour note to how he said containment.
“Wait!” Inka turned around to ask the wizard more questions as he began to leave, still feeling that pit of dread. The wizard stopped and turned, acknowledging no one else but Inka.
“That was incredible, as usual sir,” Marcielle’s voice rung out next to Inka. “Well, problem solved. Your parents are over here,” Marcielle nudged Inka in a direction, but she stood fast and stared at the wizard, her mind muddled, in shock at how quickly her life had turned around.
“I was useless,” were the only words Inka could manage, Marcielle beginning to object but the wizard raised his hand.
“Why do you think that? Because you were slow?” The wizard asked, as he raised a sharp eyebrow to stare her down. Not to be intimidated, Inka took a step forward.
“How could I not when you just show up out of nowhere and do that?!” Inka said, throwing her hands up. She felt small, insignificant in the face of what this old man had just done.
“Why are you comparing yourself to me?” The wizard asked, sounding almost offended, and catching Inka off guard.
“I--”
“Why are you comparing yourself to anyone? What could any of you have done other than slow this fire? How much more useless would you have felt if it had consumed this entire block?” The old man leered over her, every word making him feel larger in Inka’s vision, causing her to feel afraid. Suddenly he snatched both of her wrists and held Inka’s clenched fists in front of her. She struggled, but the old man was solid and unmoved.
“What do you think these hands are for?” The wizard asked with all the deadly seriousness of a king. “These callouses tell me they’re meant for shaping steel. How many people in this city can say the same?”
“Why does this matter?!” Inka shouted.
“Because, you fool, you’re obsessing over things out of your reach,” the wizard dropped Inka’s hand, allowing her to turn away and begin storming off.
“The craftspeople of Valia are holy in themselves, you would do well to understand your gift. Not everything will be in your control,” he said sternly, and with those parting words he was gone.
“There he goes again! You really got him riled up didn’t you Inka?” Marcielle whistled, patting Inka on the back.
“I don’t want to talk about him. Where are my parents,” Inka grumbled, her hand shooting out to grip Marcielle’s arm.
“Hey hey, that hurts, I’ll take you to them,” Marcielle laughed, “The emergency is over, do your best to relax okay?”
Inka didn’t answer.
#
“My dear. Good evening,” Heikki’s strained voice drew Inka from her haze of frustration, and she immediately went to her parents’ side. She drew both their hands into hers, sitting between them as they lay on a set of sheets beneath the awning of a neighbor’s house.
“I was terrified,” Inka mumbled as further words escaped herk, pulling her parents' hands close to her chest. Her throat closed off any attempt to do anything but sit there and watch over them. Heikki’s expression as he looked to Kerttu was unreadable to Inka, but her mother seemed to know what he meant.
“Don’t look at me like that Heikki, we both knew she was fine out and about,” Kerttu mumbled, and closed her eyes as she remained completely still. “The physician is retrieving medicines, but it sounds like we’ve only light burns and smoke in our lungs, do not worry overmuch about us my dear Inka.”
“Nothing escapes your notice even with your eyes closed! That about sums it up, we’ll be back in action in no time...well maybe some time,” Heikki barked a laugh but was cut short by intense coughing. Heikki pulled Inka into a strong hug, she could tell he was trying to resist laughing and when she was released he exhaled sharply “Moving still stings a lot.”
“Then stop,” Inka said, separating herself from her parents. Heikki raised an eyebrow, but complied. The two of them held eye contact for a brief moment before Heikki closed his and settled into his recovery.
“There’s something that is sure to have survived the fire, it belongs to you now,” Heikki said with that smile never leaving his lips.
“The silvered hammer,” Inka said quietly in disbelief. “I’ll get it and be back quickly, but it’s ours, not mine,” Inka said, but the pained tone caused her to choke on the tears she had been pushing down since the fire ended. Inka stood and dutifully left, Marcielle hot on her heels to accompany her into the debris after snagging a lantern.
What Heikki had said turned around in her brain as she searched through the debris. She had trouble believing that the hammer was hers now. The silvered hammer was what they used to shape special metals, it required special circumstances, it required skill, knowledge, and willpower. It required someone like--
“Inka, is this it?” Marcielle called from the other side of the workshop’s remains.
It didn’t take long for Inka to scramble to that spot, and luckily Marcielle was right. Inka knew the silvered hammer the moment she saw it and incredibly enough it wasn’t covered with as much debris as she thought it would be. From the ashes of what used to be an old workbench, Inka raised a perfectly clean hammerhead that glinted like silver in the lightning. It’s metal unmarred, unaffected by the heat or ash or rain. Marcielle looked between her and the hammer, then over his shoulder.
“My father would be proud of me regardless of what I chose to do, right?” Inka asked, doubtful she was even worthy of holding this neatly engraved tool. “When I look at this, I just feel like I’m a disappointment, like I’ve let him down somehow...all I want to do is give up and cry.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine, but you’re not a disappointment and I think your father would agree. That’s why he sent you to get it right?” Marcielle stepped up next to Inka and closed her hand over the cool silver metal in her palm. “Let’s go see your parents. Then you’ll rest, does that sound reasonable?”
“I, yeah...yeah, that sounds reasonable,” Inka could feel that stonewall she had held begin to crumble. The immediate danger was behind them, and all of the items that were a part of her previous life were gone, except the head of this hammer. In the end, Inka thought, she couldn’t do anything.